Steve Rubenstein's connection with the State of Vermont was sparked by spending ten summers at Camp Dunmore.

His affinity to Vermont then led him to the University of Vermont to study horticulture. Thirty-five years later, Steve partnered with UVM and Senator Patrick Leahy in 1996 to establish the Rubenstein Lab at the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center on Lake Champlain.

During this time, Steve became an active member of the School of Natural Resources board of advisors at UVM. In 2003, the Rubenstein family donated the largest single gift in UVM history at the time - a $15 million commitment to support environmental education and research. With this gift, the School of Natural Resources became the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, the first named school or college at UVM.

With Steve's passing in 2008, Andy and Beverly Rubenstein launched the Steven and Beverly Rubenstein Charitable Foundation, Inc. in order to continue Steve's vision for UVM to be one of the premier environmental schools in the United States.